As I write this note, higher education finds itself at a pivotal moment with colleges and universities across the nation adapting to demographic shifts, evolving student needs, and a rapidly changing world. You may have seen in the news that Stockton, like many institutions across the country, is evaluating how best to position itself for the future while continuing to meet the needs of current and prospective students. While these realities present challenges, they also provide an opportunity to reflect on who we are, what we do best, and how we can continue to serve our students and communities. Even with the current uncertainty, I am proud of the remarkable dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Every day, our students and alumni are pursuing opportunities that challenge and inspire them, conducting research, participating in field experiences, engaging with industry professionals, and developing the skills needed to become the next generation of scientists and innovators. In this issue of The Essential Elements, you'll read about many of these accomplishments, and the people whose curiosity, resilience, and commitment continue to move the STEM fields forward.   

One of NAMS' greatest strengths is our ability to provide students with experiences beyond the classroom. This past summer, five Marine Science students ─ Dylan Meier '26, Tatiana Anderson ‘26, Hannah Elliot, Joseph DeMarco, and Ethan Tyburski ─ participated in research cruises aboard vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico and along the coast of South Carolina through programs hosted by the Florida Institute of Oceanography in St. Petersberg, Florida, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Nancy Foster Student Cruise. Joseph and Ethan were two of a select group of students selected from undergraduate and graduate programs across the country who joined the annual NOAA hydrographic survey cruise. During the five-day mission, students acquired significant experience in hydrography and marine technology, working with scientists, and analyzing live multibeam sonar data. Expanding on these practical sea-going experiences, Dylan, Tatian, and Hannah joined Assistant Professor of Biology Lauren Seyler on a three-night expedition in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Hogarth, participating in the Florida Institute of Oceanography's Peerside program, investigating unique seafloor "blue holes," biological hotspots that offer critical insights into marine microenvironments. We are deeply grateful for the strong and meaningful relationships we have built with our partner organizations, as well as for the extraordinary generosity of our donors. Together, our partners and donors help us create life-changing learning experiences that inspire curiosity, broaden perspectives, and leave a lasting impact on our students. In fact, in this edition, you will learn how the Nancy Foster cruise experience turned into a full-time position for one of Stockton’s inaugural cruise participants, and marine science alumna Mackenize Briggs ’24.  

I am also excited to share that Stockton has received a $2.44 million grant from the Pro-NJ Trust to fund transformative infrastructure improvements at our Marine Field Station along Nacote Creek. This funding will revitalize our marina area, restoring a habitat-degraded lagoon with living shorelines, adding dockage, and refurbishing our boat ramp to enhance coastal resiliency and site safety. Most importantly, this project significantly expands educational access through a new, fully accessible science pier, ensuring students with disabilities can participate directly in our Dockside Science Program. Modernizing these facilities strengthens a vital working waterfront that expands hands-on research for our students, enhances our collaboration with regional environmental partners, and prepares the next generation of coastal scientists to lead New Jersey’s blue economy.  

This past July, the Computer Science program moved into NAMS from Business, giving our students more opportunities to investigate the technologies that shape our world. As a complement to our existing science majors, Computer Science strengthens the interdisciplinary connections between computing, scientific research, and technological innovation. Through hands-on learning, creative problem-solving, and computational thinking, students can develop skills that enhance their understanding of other scientific fields and prepare them to address complex challenges in a world that is increasingly driven by technology.  Please join me in welcoming our new Computer Science faculty colleagues: Sujoy Chakraborty, Vincent Cicirello, Emily Kaplitz, Zheng Li, Mohamad Neilforoshan, Pu Tian, and Helen Wei.  

We are also excited to share that Dr. Helen Wei, Professor of Computer Science, was officially inducted into the newest class of Fellows of AMIA (FAMIA) at the 2026 Amplify Informatics Conference in Denver. This prestigious national recognition honors applied informatics professionals across clinical settings, public health, and research who leverage technology and data to improve healthcare outcomes. 

Over her 17 years in the field, Dr. Wei’s research has advanced clinical data standards, data mining, and artificial intelligence to uncover critical insights into healthcare trends and neurocognitive health. Her induction to FAMIA is recognition of her exceptional achievement at the national level and a reflection of how Stockton faculty are leading innovation of emerging technologies into healthcare and medical research, and encouraging our students to be active participants in determining the future of medical science.  

This has been a year of transition and new beginnings for NAMS, as we have celebrated colleagues' well-deserved retirements and welcomed new members into our community. While saying goodbye to cherished colleagues and friends is never easy, we are extremely grateful for their dedication, contributions, and the enduring impact they have had on our School. Their impact will be seen for many years to come, and we wish them happiness and success in this new chapter. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to NAMS's success: Guy Barbato, Associate Professor of Biology (16 years), Elizabeth Bick, Marine Field Station Staff (26 years), Lestor Block, Chemistry Lab Staff (20 years), Dessie Gaston, Administrative Staff (39 years), Tim Haresign, Associate Professor of Biology (33 years), Bill Haron, Lab Staff (25 years), Eve Jaworski, Lab Staff (37 years), Yitzhak Sharon, Distinguished Professor of Physics (54 years), Lori Vermuelen, Professor of Chemistry (10 years), and Benita Villar, Instructor of Physics (18 years). As we say goodbye to departing colleagues, we were also pleased to welcome several new faculty members to the NAMS community: Surya Banks, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Laura Biggs, Teaching Assistant of Biology, and Christophe Vieira, Assistant Professor of Marine Science.  

And finally, building on the success of our inaugural Alumni-Student Networking Event last fall, I am pleased to share that we held our second annual event on Thursday, October 22. The professional experiences, insights, and career journeys of our alumni offered invaluable guidance to current students as they explore career possibilities, build professional networks, and prepare for life after graduation. The enthusiasm for the event was evident in the meaningful conversations that continued well beyond the scheduled end time, as students and alumni remained engaged in connecting, sharing experiences, and learning from one another. The event highlighted the value of bringing our alumni and students together to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build lasting connections.

As we look to the future of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, we invite our alumni to help shape our strategic direction by completing a brief survey. Your insights and perspectives will help inform our strategic planning efforts, strengthen our academic programs, and identify opportunities to better prepare students for their future careers.  

We are also expanding opportunities for alumni to stay connected each other, and become more involved with the School and our students. Whether through networking events, student mentoring, job shadowing, workplace tours and site visits, virtual presentations, or sharing professional expertise to help guide School initiatives, there are many ways to make a meaningful impact. If you're interested in getting involved, we invite you to complete our Alumni Engagement Interest Form.Your responses will help us develop opportunities that align with your interests and expertise while strengthening connections between our alumni, students, and the School.  

Together, we can build a stronger alumni community, create valuable connections between our graduates and students, and help shape the future of our School.  We look forward to growing these connections and working with our alumni to create new opportunities for engagement, collaboration, and success.

All the best,

Dr. Amanda Norvell
Dean of the School of Natural Sciences